The Organization

Executive Committee

We must remember that our members are interested in karate's relevance to their lives in the real world - not the karate world. They want to study with enthusiastic, well trained instructors who are able bring out the best in them as individuals. They want to learn an effective and serious form of self-defense that is also a demanding and exacting traditional art. Finally, those that compete want to be exposed to fair, intense and challenging competition.
The goal of the AJKA is to meet these expectations.

Edmond Otis

Leslie B. Sáfár, 8.Dan,
International Technical Director,
AJKA Chief Instructor - Europe


Leslie Sáfár, AJKA co-founder, has practiced Shotokan karate since 1958. He is well known on both sides of the Atlantic for his mastery as an instructor, his intense focus on the core technical principles of Shotokan Karate, and the development of instructor training programs dedicated to building the total instructor. Sensei Sáfár tours the United States on a regular basis, but spends the majority of his time teaching, directing, and developing AJKA karate in Hungary, and throughout Europe.

Edmond Otis, 7.Dan
International Chairman,
AJKA Chief Instructor - North America


Edmond Otis has practiced Shotokan karate since 1967, and is internationally known as a competitor, instructor, coach, and judge. Sensei Otis is acclaimed for his innovative and dynamic teaching style, and is considered by many to be one of the premier karate instructors of his generation. He has trained numerous individuals and teams to national and international championships, and travels extensively for the AJKA, conducting seminars that focus on all aspects of karate practice.

 

Dr. László Palkovics
Chairman

In addition to being a devoted admirer of technical wonders, László Palkovics took up karate in 1982. Since then, he has been studying this sport with some interruptions, returning to intensive practice 3 years ago. He is a brown-belt, he trains at and heads the Alba Control Karate Club.

László Palkovics graduated from the Technical University of Budapest in 1989, as an automotive engineer. After achieving the degree of Candidate at technical sciences, he became a doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Science and a university lecturer. He was promoted to the leading position at the Automotive Engineering Department of the TUB in 1994. One year afterwards he was appointed the Electronic System Development Director of the R&D institute of Knorr-Bremse. His areas of research are: motor vehicle dynamics and stability, applied regulation theory, modeling vehicle systems. He is the Secretary General of the Hungarian Motor Vehicle Association, a position he fills as a volunteer. He speaks Russian, English, German and Italian, the first three fluently.

 

László Csákvári
Chairman of the Coaching and Competition Committee

László Csákvári started to learn karate in 1980. In 1985 he won his cap for the Hungarian Karate Selected Team as one of its youngest member. Between 1985-96 many times, he succeeded in winning places at hungarian and international competitions.

After being graduated in physical education and recreation at ELTE Teacher Training College Division in 1994, he graduated also in physical education at the Hungarian University of Physical Education in 1998.

In 1999 he finished the Instructor School of the Hungarian A.J.K.A. Shotokan Karate Association, led by Sensei Sáfár, which was the first 2-years long special karate training program in Hungary. He completeted the Long Island University Karate Instructor Certificate Program in July 2001. From 1999 to 2001, he was the condition coach of the Hungarian Karate Selected Team, besides Gerd Rebicek.

He's lecturer at ELTE Physical Education and Recreation Department from 1991 to 94, PE teacher at Diana Primary and Secondary School between 1992-2002. At present, László Csákvári has 6 Dans, he's the Chairman of the Coaching and Competition Committee of the A.J.K.A. Shotokan Karate Association of Hungary, Coach of the selected team and Deputy Chairman of the Training and Furter Education Committee.

 

Norbert Csősz Tóth
Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee

Norbert Csősz Tóth has 6 Dans, he's the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee and a member of the Directorate of the Hungarian A.J.K.A.

He's been practicing karate for 21 years, was a member of the Selected Team over 10 years. Presently, he's the Technical Director of the Keszthely Shotokan Sport Club, besides, Technical Director of five more associated Clubs.

He was awarded 1st Dan in 1989, 2nd in 1992, received his 3rd Dan in 1999 and the 4th in 2001. He was awarded 5th Dan in 2003, and 6th Dan in 2005.

Several times he took part at -county, hungarian and international- competitions, championships and won, mainly in kumite. In 2000-2001, he completeted the Instructor School of the Hungarian A.J.K.A. and the Long Island University Karate Instructor Certificate Program.

In 2004, he was voted the "Keszthely City's best coach of year 2003".

He's a level "A" Certified Master Rank Examiner from 2003. Norbert Csősz Tóth is a businessman, owner of more companies and the manager of one of them.

 

Gábor Rétlaki
Chairman of the Marketing and Communication Committee

Gábor Rétlaki has been practicing karate since 1988. He was qualified in coaching at the Hungarian University of Physical Education in 1996. In 1999 he finished the first Instructor School of the Hungarian A.J.K.A., and completeted the Long Island University Karate Instructor Certificate Program in 2001. He was awarded the 5th Dan in 2004. Also in 2004 he was voted the "coach of the year" by the Hungarian A.J.K.A. Shotokan Karate Association.

Throughout his competitor's career he's multiple Hungarian Champion and Euro Cup Winner. At present, he's the chairman and technical director of the Alba Shotokan Dojo SC, as well as Kata Coach of the selected team. There's 10 black belt karatekas among his students, some of them have been voted "Sportsmen of the Year", a couple of times. Three of them have also finished the Instructor School while other three of them is just doing it.

He got his highest qualification in safeguarding in the civvy street and follows this trade since 1992. He has been occupied as a leader at several hungarian and international firms. Presently he leads an own safeguarding enterprise.

 

István Nemes
Chairman of the Referee Committee

István Nemes was born in 1964, started to practice karate in 1979, in Debrecen. Between 1983-1999, he led the trainings of the Debrecen Shotokan Karate Club, his first referee qualification was issued in 1984. He's been coaching in Mikepércs and in Hajdúböszörmény from 2000. On divers occassions, several of his studens have won places at hungarian championships. Presently, he's the chairman of the Hajdúböszörmény Shotokan Karate Club.

He joined in the Shotokan Karate Association of Hungary in 2001, he has finished the Instructor Shool of the Association. At the present time he has 4 Dans, and he's the Chairman of the Referee Committee of the Hungarian A.J.K.A.

István Nemes' original profession is chemist. From 1990 he's been working in safeguarding, he's the Regional Head of a safeguarding company.